It is said that: reporting without owning the claim

Examples

1. It is believed that the two companies are in talks.

2. The driver is understood to have been uninjured.

3. The scheme is expected to cost twice the original estimate.

4. He is alleged to have taken the documents home.

Common mistakes

• ✗Wrong: It is said the fire to have started in the roof.

  ✓Right: It is said that the fire started in the roof.

  The it is said that frame takes a full clause, not an infinitive.

• ✗Wrong: The fire is said that started in the roof.

  ✓Right: The fire is said to have started in the roof.

  When the subject is lifted out, an infinitive follows.

• ✗Wrong: He is thought to steal the money last year.

  ✓Right: He is thought to have stolen the money last year.

  A past event under a present report takes to have + participle.

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

1. 1Choose the correct sentence.

   1. AIt is reported three people to be injured.
   2. BIt reports that three people were injured.
   3. CIt is reporting that three people were injured.
   4. DIt is reported that three people were injured.
   Show answer

   Answer: D It is reported that three people were injured.

   It is reported that plus a clause.

2. 2Choose the correct sentence.

   1. AThe building is known that is unsafe.
   2. BThe building is known to be unsafe.
   3. CThe building knows to be unsafe.
   4. DIt is known the building to be unsafe.
   Show answer

   Answer: B The building is known to be unsafe.

   The lifted-subject form takes a bare infinitive.

3. 3Choose the correct sentence.

   1. AShe is thought that she left the country.
   2. BShe is thought to have left the country.
   3. CIt is thought her to have left the country.
   4. DShe thinks to have left the country.
   Show answer

   Answer: B She is thought to have left the country.

   A past event under a present report.

4. 4Fill in the gap.

   It _____ that the decision will be announced in June.

   1. Ais expected
   2. Bexpected
   3. Cis expecting
   4. Dexpects
   Show answer

   Answer: A It is expected that the decision will be announced in June.

   Impersonal passive with that.

5. 5Fill in the gap.

   The company _____ to be in financial difficulty.

   1. Aunderstood
   2. Bunderstands
   3. Cis understood
   4. Dis understanding
   Show answer

   Answer: C The company is understood to be in financial difficulty.

   The lifted-subject frame.

6. 6Fill in the gap.

   Several passengers _____ to have been asleep at the time.

   1. Asay
   2. Bare saying
   3. Csaid
   4. Dare said
   Show answer

   Answer: D Several passengers are said to have been asleep at the time.

   A plural subject with a past infinitive.

7. 7Fill in the gap.

   It _____ widely believed that the figure is too low.

   1. Ais being
   2. Bwas been
   3. Cis
   4. Dhas
   Show answer

   Answer: C It is widely believed that the figure is too low.

   It is widely believed that is the fixed frame.

8. 8Fill in the gap.

   The manuscript _____ to date from the twelfth century.

   1. Ais believed
   2. Bis believing
   3. Cbelieves
   4. Dbelieved
   Show answer

   Answer: A The manuscript is believed to date from the twelfth century.

   A present claim about a permanent fact.

9. 9This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

   Which sentence is wrong?

   1. APeople say the company is for sale.
   2. BIt is said that the company is for sale.
   3. CThe company is said to be for sale.
   4. DIt is said the company to be for sale.
   Show answer

   Answer: D It is said the company to be for sale.

   The two frames have been mixed.

10. 10This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    Which sentence is wrong?

    1. AHe is alleged to have stolen the money.
    2. BHe is alleged to stealing the money.
    3. CIt is alleged that he stole the money.
    4. DHe is alleged to be stealing the money.
    Show answer

    Answer: B He is alleged to stealing the money.

    to takes an infinitive, not an -ing form.